Dental Buddy, the Oral Health Foundation’s free oral health education programme for nursery and school children, has been given a fresh new look ahead of the next academic year.

When it comes to improving the nation’s oral health, learning is key.  

Education is so important and can help prevent oral health issues from occurring in the first place.  

Developing the knowledge and learning the correct behaviours for a healthy mouth should be a part of every child’s upbringing.  This is because the best time to pick up new habits is when we are young – when the brain is developing.

Dental Buddy aims to equip children with the tools they need for good oral health in a fun and engaging way. It does this through a series of colourful and dynamic interactive presentations and accompanying lesson plans. The presentations, which also include instructions for some experiments the children can do, take them on a step-by-step journey through which they learn how to take care of their teeth and gums.

The plans are easy to follow and teach and require no prior training or academic background in oral health. Dental Buddy is designed to equip anyone with the tools and resources to become an oral health educator, either at home or in a classroom setting.

At a young age, children are keen to learn and explore the world around them as they try and develop their own sense of self. By providing children with the tools to take care of their oral health, and an understanding of why it is important, you can provide them with a healthy smile they can maintain for life.

Dental Buddy provides educational resources for Early Years' Education, Key Stage One, and Key Stage Two. These include activity sheets, lesson plans and interactive presentations. All of which are freely downloadable from our website.

The programme’s messages for children are simple:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Have a balanced diet and learn about the importance of cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks.
• Dentists are here to help you look after your teeth which is why it’s important you see them.

Whether you are a teacher, parent or childminder, Dental Buddy can help you to education young children and allow them to learn about the importance of a healthy mouth.

Please fill out this form to access all our free Dental Buddy resources